Obituary of Bernadette Mae Lee

Bernadette graduated from Lincoln High School 1935 and shortly there after married Howard J. Lee and raised a brood of seven boys during a marriage that spanned fifty years before the death of Howard in 1987. Bernadette was known as Mom to many more boys than her own. She fed and nurtured many of he son's friends, gave them a home away from home in troubled times in that "Big House" on the corner affectionately known as Mom's Boys Town and she made all feel her love as one of her son's. That same love came back to her in spades for all her years to come. Her sense of humor was essential in maintaining her sanity in living within a boys town. God knows her sons taxed it frequently with all the shenanigans that played out over the years while growing-up in the Big House; the parties, the sleepovers, the pranks went on ad infinitum for many years. And if the cops had to make an appearance they also knew their place at the Big House; never park in the driveway, just on the side of the house as what would the neighbors think? God have mercy on those rookie cops when their training officers made them park in the driveway so they watch and laugh as the rookie caught her wrath. A defender she was and those officers knew never to accuse any of "sons" without proof of their transgressions or there would be hell to pay and God forbid if one of her "sons" were at fault as they paid twice; once to the cops and then to Mom. And we boys knew that discipline payment was well placed and deserved. She so dearly wanted a daughter her Doctor for all the previous births was so confident child number six would be a girl (no ultra sound then, just the odds) he bet her the cost of his service on it; never did he send a bill, a $125 windfall in 1951. She finally got her wish and gained many daughters as her many, many sons married and brought them home to her at the Big House. Bernadette was born in Spokane to the parents of David and Melvina Brunell and grew up on McKinley Hill within a family of three brothers and one sister. Her father was a baker and mother a homemaker. They all moved to family housing in the Puyallup Valley during the summer to earn money working the produce harvests for the coming school year and even at that they barely eked out a living, even indoor plumbing would be a luxury not known them till their late teens. Bernadette was predeceased by her husband Howard J. Lee, sons William Lee and Kenneth Lee, sister Genevieve Smith, brothers Edward Brunell, David Brunell, daughter-in-law Gayle Lee, nieces & nephews Angel Lee & Jeffery Lee, and brother-in-law Earl Smith. She is survived by her Bother Leonard J. Brunell of University Place and her sons & her "daughters": James & Beth Lee, David Lee, Tacoma; Bob Lee & Penny Lane, Lakewood; Larry-Paul & Patty Lee, Gig Harbor; and Thom Lee & Mariah Laamb, Olympia. Additionally, Bernadette has 30 grandsons & granddaughters, 39 third-generation & 11 fourth-generation offspring. And to this day her family came to the Big House as the central gathering place for all her children and friends to revel in her love and share it by the example she set. Bernadette's family also wants to express their love to Shirley Sanders for the special kindness shown to Mom in providing three years of live-in care and to her sister's Maggie Goodman, Penny Lane and daughter Linda Sanders for being there to give Shirley time off. This special kindness made it possible for Mom to stay in her Big House for more the sixty years, a home built her and Howard by design, labor and much love. A home that has seen so much happiness and the tragedies that came during her life, a home that was there for all of her extended family of sons who used it for their grounding when they needed help from Mom & Dad, their home for a damn good meal and a home they could always find her love for them without question or judgment. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 7025 S. Park Avenue, Tacoma, WA at 11:00 AM on Monday, the 23rd. This Mass will be preceded with a viewing and Rosary at 10:00 AM. A graveside service will follow after lunch at the Church and a final gathering will be held at the Big House for all of her family to once again become re-grounded to their roots. Services entrusted to Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home, 253-472-3353 and please sign Mom's guest book with your memories, especially all of her sons